Reversible engine-starting system



T. ZIMMERMAN AND T. R. DU BOIS.

REVERSIBLE ENGINE STAHTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION man MAY 24. uns.

1,363802. Patented Dec.281920.

4 SHEETSSHEET l. START/N6 sw/ 7'CH 2:Qa/ g 77/omas Z immerman T.ZIMMERMAN AND T. R. DU BOIS.

HEVERSIBLE ENGINE STABTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION m50 mw 2. uns.

1 363 302. Patented Dem 28, 1920.

4 SMEE'lS-SHEET 2.

3wuwlkw Thomas fi. 0050/2:

7/5omas Zimmerman T. ZIMMERMAN AND T. R. DU BOIS.

REVERSIBLE ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM.

APPLICAHON man MA! 24. uns.

Patented Beo. 28, 1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

Mamas Z /mmerman T. ZIMMERMAN AND T. R. DU BOIS.

REVERSIBLE ENGINE STAHTING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION m50 mw 24.19us.

Fuses Fuses Fis.4

@M JW% Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

4 SNEETS-SHEET Set/es 5x ein/es inverse so: 29x

wmwvwmW Thomas Z [mm erm an UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS ZIMMERMAN AND THOMAS R. DU BOIS, O]? NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK,ASSIGNORS T0 U. S. LIGHT & BIEAT CORPORATION, OF NIAGARA FALLS, NEW

YORK, A GORPOBATION OF NEW YORK.

REVERSIBLE EN GINE-STARTIN G SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patentcd Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed May 24, 1916. Serial N0. 99,565.

T0 all wkom z't may concern:

Be it known that we, THOMAS ZIMMER MAN and THOMAS R. DU Boxs, citizenscf 1'311e United States residing at Niagara Falls, in'the county ofNiagara and State 0f New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Reversible EngineStarting Systems, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relatcs to reversible engine starting systems.

In ccrtain classes of service, particularly marine service, it isdesirablc 130 provide a rotatable shaft, the direction of rotation ofwhich is reversible at will. It is common practice to ope1ate launchesby means 0f a screw ropeller driven by an interna.l combustion engine."arious expedients have been employed for reversing the directi'on ofthe launch, such as reversing the direction of rotation of the propellershaft or changing the pitch 0f the propeller blades. The presentinvention relates to means for reversing the direction of rotation 0f'the propeller shaft and has fo1 one 0f its 0bjects the accomplishment0f that result without the use of change gearing between the engine andthe propeller shaft.

A further object is to provide a system for operating the propellingmechanism 0f a boat in a forward er reverse direction, which system hasa minimum of liabilit v t0 get out 0f erden A further object is toprovide a system of the kind referred to, in which t he nurnber 0foperations nccessary 120 set the boat in motion in either a forward 01'a reverse direction is reduced to a minimum.

A further object is to provide a system readily adaptable for use Wit-ha starting and generating dynamo-electric machine, Whereby after theboat has been started in its forward direction, said dynamoelectricmachine may provide the necessary energy to charge a storage battery 120supply lights und to conserve energ v for further starts.

A further object is to provide a 'starting and reversing system forboats having a plurality of rope1ler shafts.

Further 0 jec-ts Will be apparent a.s the description proceeds.

Referring t0 th drawings Figure 1 represents one embodiment 0f thepresent invention.

Fig. 2 represents the invention applied to a. preferred type of startingand.generating dynamo-electric machine.

Fig. 3 represents a modification of the system disclosed in Fig. 2.

F ig. 4 represents the invention as applied t0 a system involving aplurality of dynamo electr1c machines each adapted to coperate with apropeller shaft.

Referring fi1st 130 F ig. l, the numeral l inclicates a dynamo-electricmachine preferably adapted to operabe either as a motor 0r a generator.Said dynamo-electric ma chine is shown direct connected to the crankshaft 2, constituting part of an internal combustion engine. Said crankshaft drives a ropeller 3. A storage battery 4 is provided f01 thepurpose of supplying energy 130 the dynamo-electric machlne for startingpurposes and for storing energy when said dynamo-electric machine isoperating as a generator. Said dynamaelectric machine may be providedwith a series winding 5 und a shunt winding 6, which will actcumulntively under starting conditions and difl'erentially undergenerating conditions, Whereby the charging current may be nontrolled inthe well known manner. A re versing switch is indicated as a whole bythe numeral 7, by which the olarity of the circuit; applied t0 theterminals of the dynamo-electric machine may be reversed at will. Astarting switch is indicated as a whole by the numeral 8, 'provided withthe startmg co ntacts 9 und 10 and the movable contact 11, which movablecontact is normally held away from. the stationary contacts by means ofthe spring 12. As shown in ig. 1, one of said stationary Contacts isconnected to one terminal of the battery 4, while the other stationarycoutact i.s connected to one of the middle contacts of the reversingswitch 7. The other of the middle contacts 0f the reversing switch isconnected through the series winding 5 to the other side of the battery4. The rmature. cf the dynamo-electric machine 1 is connected in thecircuit just described and the connections t0 its terminals may be 1eversed by means of the reversing switch 7. An automatic switch 13 of anypreferred construction, is provided between the dyna- 1n0 electricmachine 1 and the battery 4. This automatic switch is provided with ashunt lifting coil 14 und u scries l1olding coil 15. Said c0ils controlthe engugement 0f u movable switch 16 Witl1 a stntionary contuct 17,which contacts n1c udaptcd 10 close u circuit betwecn tl1e dynamoelectric machine und tl1c bnttery, 215 shown.

In tl1c 0 ucration of .tl'i0 emhoclirnent illustrated in lig. 1, if itis desired to propel the b0at in u forwzud direction, tl1e reversin;swit zh will l e thrown in its lowermost position an l the sturtingswitch 8 will be closed. Circuit will now be complete from tl1e battery4, through tlxe abarting switcl1 8 1eft band side o1 reversing switch 7,{11'- an ture. 01" nlynumo-electric macl1ine 1, left llli.tl si:le ofreversing; swicl1 7, und series winding; 5 back 10 tlie battery. Abrunch vincuil. lhmuqh tl1e sl1unt winding 6 mag ud aus :i mwior umlcrtlxe streng field due t0 Ilw un liwgr 5 :111(l 6 ncling cumulutivcly.'iliifi nminring acton will (um tl1e (Tankslm-l'1 filllliflfl Ll|0ungine. 'll1eruufier Kl1g Ciitl|l Sl=ilfl will be acuated by the en 5"nvt lrivu th:2 pmpcller 3 t0 man: l1e bo=t n fh0 l'c;rwzw l direction.After the MgEne 11;S bc m startecl. tl1e orerator will 012.0 tho nrtingswitch S. \Vlxen tl1e engriue (l1i'i; tl1e dynamo-electric muchim; at ar-ul'zi icntlv l)l, !ll speed to develop 21 volb :I JC suliicimt toclmrge tl1e battery, tl1c nu- -omatic switch will cl0se in the munnerwell |1n lerst0od tlms completing circuit. between tlxeclynzuno-electric machine 21ml tho bat-' Len. Tl1e. serics winding 5will now ach difl'mentinllv L0 tl1e slmx1t Winding 6 in tl1e nmnner wellunderstood t0 hold tlna current output 01' tl1e generator within safelimits.

Any suitable means may be provided f01 stmming Charge when the batteryis sul1i cientl v charged.

1Vhen it is desired t0 move tlie boat in the backwnrd direction fr0m aposition of IOSL. the operator Will move tlxe reversing switch 7 to itsupper position and will close the starting switch. The conncctions totl1e a1- mature of tl1e dynamo electric machine will now be veversed andthe armature will revolve as a motor in the reverse direction. T0 causetlie engine t0 start in die reverse direction. any of the well knownexpedients for that purp0se may be employed. Tl1c means i'mconclitioning the engine for reversal n1ay be operated independently ofthe reversing switch 7 01' may be connected t0 move therewith. Theparticular 1ne: ms employed a;nd the manner 01 operat1 ng sameconstitute 110 part of the present 111- vention.

Fig. 2 shows an embodiment 0f tl1e present invention apnlied t0 the type012 starb ing and generating dynamo alectnc mz1v cl:ine describcd intl1e application of Lewis V. Nelson, Serial N0. 856,805, filecl August14, 1914:, und tl1c application of William A. 'lurbayne an l Thomas R.Du Bois, beriul N0. 29,067, filed May 19, 1915. Said dy namo -electricmachine is pi'ovided with eight b1uslies, a b, c, d, e, f, g and h as.shuwn, all 0f which an: used in starting, but of wl1ich only brushes e,f and g am used in generating A four pole revers1ng switch 7 isprovidecl for reversing the comnutions to the armature 0f the dynamoelectric machine for tl1e purpose of producing rotation in eitherdirection at will. Said l'our p0le reversing switch 7 is macle up 0f twosections 7" and 7", the blades cooperating therewith being movable asone mcmber.

A. stni'ting switch 8 is providecl lmving 21 pnir of movable contacts 11und 11 mm nl:le :1s 0110 mcmlmr. An automatic swit -l: 13 is alsopmviled having tlxe usual lilting c0il 14 anal u hol(ling coil 15. Tl1eunnature 01 the dynamo ele tric machine W1ll be mechanically conuectedt0 the ciank slmft cf an internal combustion engine und t0 tl1ebropeller 0f tl1e boat, as in Fig. 1. The varinu.= elements 01 thesystem specifiecl above are connected b v suitable conductors which willbe refe1red t0 in tl1e description cf opemtion which follows.

1Vhen the operator desires t0 move tl1e boat in a forwar.l direction, heWill move the reversing swit h 7 to tl1e right band position anal Willclose tl1e starting switcb 8. Currcent Will now flow fl0lll the positiveside of the batter v tlnough the movable contact 11 to section 7 0f tl1ereversing switch l;0 brushes h b und d of the dynamo electric machineancl through section 7" 0f the reversing switch 1:0 brush f 0f thedynamo-electric machine. After passing through the various conductors ofthe armature, the current will leave the armature lxy means 01 brushesa, c, e and g. Currenc from brushes a ancl c will flow through sec tion7 of the reversing switch, through contact 11 of the starting switch tothe point 18. Current frorn the brushes e and g will fiow throughsection 7 of the reversing switch to the point 18. From point 18 currentWill flow through the series winding 5 to the negative side of thebattery. The shunt winding 6 of the dynamo-electric machine will rece1vecurrent frorn the posi tive side of the battery through contact 11 undconductor 19. From the shunt winding 6 current will pass through theseries winding 5 to the negative side of the battery. The efl'ect of theshunt coil 6 will be anmulative with tl1at of the series coil 5. Tl1edynamo-electric machine will operate as a motor and will start theinternal combustion cngine to d1ive the propeller to move the boat in aforward direction.

After t;he engino h:us been stnrted, the operator will release thestmting switc-h 8. The internal combustion engine Will continue to drivethe urmature of the dynnmo-electric machine to ach as a generator. Asstated above, oply brushes e, f and g will deliver 'generating current,the brushes e and g being connected, preferably through the compansatingwinding 20,120 the conductor 21 The bruSh f -is connected totheconductor 22. The circuit may now be traced from the brush f throughconductor 22, section 7" 015 the reversing switch, conductor 19, 1iftingcoil 14 of the automatic switch, series coil 5 to the point 18, throghthe section 7 of the reversing switch to the brushes e and g. Vhen thedynamo-electric mnchine develops a voltage suificiently high foreharging the storage battex-y, the automatic switch will close in thewell known manner. Circuit may now be traced from the b1ush f to t heconductor 22, section 7" of the reversing switch, conductor 19, holdingcoi1 15 and contacts 16 and 17 of tbe automatic switch to the positiveside cf the battery, through the battery, series winding 5, to the point18, through section 7 of the reversing switch to the brushes e and g ofthe dynamoe1ectric machine. Any suitab]e means may be provided forstopping the charge of the battery when the Charge is comp1ete.

VVhen it is desired to move the boat in the backward (1118111011 from aposition of rest, the operator will throw the reversing switeh 7 to itsleft band position al1d will then close the starting switch 8. Currcntfr0m the positive side of the batter v will nov: flow through thesection 11 of the starting switch, throu h section 7 of the reversingswitch to brus es e and g, and through section 7" of the reversingswitch to brushes a and c. Current, after circulating through thevarious armature conductors, wi11 ass through the brushes d, b and h,through the section 7" of the reversing switch 130 the point 18. Currentwill also pasg from the biush f through section 7 of the reversingswitch, through se;tion 11" of the starting switch to the point 18. Fromfl.1e point 18 current will pass through series winding 5 in the samedireetion as previous1y described, to the negative side of the battery.Current for excit1ng the shunt; coil 6 will pass from the positive sideof the b attery through secti on 11 013 the. startmg switch, conductor19, to the shunt coil 6, whence it will ass through the series coil 5 tothe negative side of the batt-ery. Innsmush es the armature connectionsare 110W reversed while the field connections remain unchanged, Ehearmature of' the dynamoelectric machinewvill revolve in the reversedirection, drivinp; the propeller in a reverse direction. In thisembodiment, as in the embodiment disclosed in Fig. 1, the proper meunswill be provided fo1 perrnitting the ongine to statt in the rcversedirection.

In Fig. 3 is disclosed a modification o1 the. arrangement disclosed inFig. 2, the four pole reversing switch being dispensed with. Fig. 3difi'ers from Fig. 2 in that only one switch need be operated formovement in the forward direction, und only one switch for movemont inthe reverse direction. In Fig;

3 the same dvnamo-electriemachine is dis- Cl0sed as inFig. 2, theconductors leading from the various brushes being eonnected to the twoswitches above referred to for producing either a forward or reversorotation of the armature, es desired.

The forward switch corhprises threc stationary contacts 23, 24, 25, andone movable contact 26. The reversing switch corflpriscs five stationarycontac'ts 27, 28, 29, 30 und 31, and three movable contacts 32, 33, and34. These three movable contacts am conneced to move as one member andme normally held in the position shown, with the contact 32 bridging thecontacts 28 and 29.-

1n the operation of Fig. 3, when the operator desires tor'nove the boatin the forward direction, he will close the forwar switch 26. Currentmay novv flow from the positive side of the battery through contact 25,Contact 26, contact ,23=t0 brushes d, b und h. Current may also flowfrom contact26 to contact 24, to brush f. The cmrent :nay emerge fromthe brushes a, c, e and g, which are connected together, brushes e and gbeing shown as connected through a compensating winding, whichcompensating winding nmy be provided for the purpose 0f controlling thefield flux foi regulating purposes. Current Will flow from brushes a, c,e and g to contact 28, through cimtacts 32 and 29, through the seneswinding 5, back to the negative side cf the battery. Current forenergizing the shunt winding 6 will pass from the positive side of thebattery through contact 25, 26, contact 24 to conductor 19, f1om theswitch 35 130 the shunt winding 6, thence through the series winding 5150 the negative side 0f the hat tery. The dynamo-electric machine willnow operate as a motor to starb the internal combustion engine und drivethe ropeller. After the internal combustion engine has 'been started, itwill continue to drive the propeller und will operate thedynamo-eleetric machine as a generator- Just as in the embodimentdisclose'd in Fig. 2, brushes e, and g will be the generating brushes.Vhen the dynamwelectric machine has developed a voltage suflicientlyhigh to charge the storage batterv 4, the automatie switch 13 wi1lc1ose. The circuits for the automativ switch ma.y be tmeed as follows:From the brush f, conductor 22 leads to the eonductor 19. From conductor19 the circuit may be traced through the lifting coil 14, through theseries coil 5. mtexcts 99, 82 :m l tu tho brushes e ancl g. Thelil'ting' uoil ll will close contacts 16 und 17 0i tl1e uutomatic swith. Circuit nmy 110W be truce l from the brush thmuglx conductor 22,conductor 19, holdi'ng coil 13, contacts 16 and 17, tlimugh the nmmeter36 t0 the positive si(le of the battery, through tlie battery, throughtl1c series coil 5, to contacs 99, 32 und 28 0f the brushes e and g.Circuit to the shunt; Held energizing coil 6 may be traced as follows:brush f, c-oncluctor 22, concluccor 19, switch 35, shunt coil G,contucts 29, 32 und 28, to b1ushes e and g. The dynuu'1o-electricmachine 1 will continue t0 chargc Ehe battery until the shunt fieldexciting winding 6 is open-circuitecl by the opening 0f the switch 35,which will kill thu ex-z:itution of the genemtor. The switcn 35 may beopened when the battery is l'ully clmrged.

\Vhen it is desired to move the boat in a baclnvnrd direction, theoperator Will move the reversing switch, throwing contact 32 ut ofcontact with contacts 28 and 29 and bringing contact 83 into contactwith con tacts 27 m1d 28, and bringing contuct 34 into contact withcontucts 29, 30 and 31. Circuit may now be traced from tl1e positiveside of the battery, through contacts 27, 33 und 28 to the brushes 01,0,e and g. After passing through the conductors of the armature, currentWill pass from brushes d, b und h, through contac 30, contact 34,contact 29, to the series c0il 5. From tl1e brush f current Will assthrough tl1e concluctor 22 00 the contact 31, contact 34, contact 29 totne series coil 5. From the series c0il 5 Lhe eurrent will pass t0 thenegative side of the battery. lt Will be noted that tl1e armatureconnections are reversed while the field remains unchan ed in direction,consequently. the dynamo-e gactric machine Will statt tl1e engine in areverse direction.

Referring now to Fig. 4, a system is disclosed involving tw0dynamo-electric machines for the purpose of operating two internalcombustion engines on a twin screw vessel. TW0 forward and tw0 reverseswitches a1e provided for connecting the battery and the dynamo-electricmachine& In this figure the tw0 dynamoelectric machines am designated mand y. Tl1e connections between each dynarno-electric machine und thebattery are exactly the same as the connections between the batte1y andthe dvnamo-electric machine in Fig. 3. The cnductors am represented bythe s ame reference numerals that are used on F1g. 3, the sulfix x o1 ybeing added thereto for tl1e purpose of designating wliether sa idcondnctors coperate with dynarnwelectnc mach1ne w 01 y. The operation ofeach 0152 tl1e dynamo-electric machines in Fig. 4 Wlll be clear from thedescription of. the system disclosed in Fig. 3. lt is clear tl1at if iis desired t0 sturt the dynamo-electric machine w in the forwarddirection, it will only be necessary t0 close contact 26". If it isdesired to start both dynamo-electric machines in the forward direction,it is necessary to close coutacts 26" an(l 26". Whether only onedynamo-electric machinc 01 both are used, they Will start theirrespective internal combustion engines to drive the boat. After be'mgstarted either 01 both of the inbernal combustion engines will drive oneor both of the dynamo-electric machines as generators in a n1anner whichwill be understood from the description given above in connection withFifi. 3.

ff it, is desired t0 drive the boat in a. backward direction such anoperation may be done by starting the dynamo-electric machine m 01dynamo-electric machine y, or both, in the reverse direction bydepressing the appropriate reversing switches.

Several embodiments of the present invention have been described for thepurpose of illustrating the same. Various modifications will occur t0those skilled in the art, Which modifications Will not depart from thespirit of the invention. It is desired that this case Shall cover allsuch modifications.

Having described our invention, what we clairn as new sind des'ire tosecure by Letters Patent of the nited States is:

l. In a, system of propulsion, a pair of inte1nal combustion engines,plurality of dynamo-electric machines each 0f which is adapted tooperate as a generator and also :1s a motor to starb one 0f saidinternal com bustion engines for driving a propeller a storage battery,and a. pair of switches lor each dynamo-electric machine for conneccingsame to said battery, each of saicl switches being adapted to completecircuit from said battery to one of said dynamoelectric machines formotoring functions, the two switches of each of said pairs 0f switcheshaving reverse motpring eflects.

2. In a system of propulsion, a plurality of dynamo-electric machines,auch of which is adapted to operate as a generator und also as a motorto statt an internal combustion engine for driving a propeller, astorage battery, a pair of forward switches, each co'perating with oneof said dynamo-electr1c mach'ines to connect same to said battery forforward rotation, am] a pair of reverse switches, each coperating withone of said dynamoelectric machines to connect s ame to said battery forreverse rotation, sa1d forward and reverse switches being independentlyoperable.

In witness whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names.

THOMAS ZIMMERMAN. THOMAS R. DU BOIS.

